If there’s one thing the U.S. tax code is notorious for, it’s being frustratingly complicated. Given the abundance of rules at play, it’s not uncommon for taxpayers to make their fair share of mistakes. In fact, the IRS estimates that 17% of filers violate the tax code in one way or another when preparing their returns.
But while honest mistakes happen to the best of us, there are a few tax myths out there that could really come back to bite you if you wind up falling for the wrong one. Here are a few major misconceptions about the tax code — and the truth behind them.